Tethered ball attached to a strap for batting practice off an existing tee

ABSTRACT

A batting practice device has a baseball attached to a rope with a strap attached to one end of the rope. The strap can be used to attach the batting practice device to a batting tee so that a user can practice hitting without having to have a large backstop or having to retrieve the hit ball from a field. The ball can be hit off the tee and is stopped by the rope, allowing the user to pick it up and hit again. In some embodiments, the strap can be anchored to the ground to allow a user to do soft toss hitting practice if desired.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/585,505, filed Jan. 11, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to batting practice accessories and, more particularly, to a baseball attached to a rope and then a strap for batting practice off a tee.

Practicing hitting a baseball off a tee can only be done by one of two Ways—hitting the ball into a big net or fence, or hitting many balls out into a field and then retrieving the balls from throughout the field.

Conventional hitting aids cannot control the flight of the ball and need to be stopped by a separate device or attached to a large permanent pole, or the like. These hitting aids are often large or permanent or not made to use with an existing batting tee.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved batting practice device that can be easy, portable and efficient to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a batting practice device comprises a ball; a rope having the ball attached to a first end thereof; a strap attached to a second, opposite end of the rope; and an attachment mechanism formed on the strap to permit the strap to be secured in a loop.

In another aspect of the present invention, a batting practice device comprises a ball; a rope having the ball attached to a first end thereof; a strap attached to a second, opposite end of the rope; and an attachment mechanism formed on the strap to permit the strap to be secured in a loop, wherein the ball has a hole formed therethrough, the hole including a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion, wherein the first diameter portion has a first diameter smaller than a second diameter of the second diameter portion; and the rope is passed into the ball through the first diameter portion and out of the ball through a second diameter portion, wherein a knot tied in the first end of the rope is retained in the second diameter portion without being pulled out through the first diameter portion.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a batting practice device, in use, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the batter practice device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view showing a fabric strap of the batting practice device of FIG. 1 attached to a batting tee;

FIG. 4 is a front end detailed perspective view showing a rope passing through a hole in a baseball in the batting practice device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a rear end detailed perspective view of the baseball of FIG. 4 with the rope passing therethrough; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a batting practice device having a baseball attached to a rope with a strap attached to one end of the rope. The strap can be used to attach the batting practice device to a batting tee so that a user can practice hitting without having to have a large backstop or having to retrieve the hit ball from a field. The ball can be hit off the tee and is stopped by the rope, allowing the user to pick it up and hit again. In some embodiments, the strap can be anchored to the ground to allow a user to do soft toss hitting practice if desired.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6, a baseball 44 can be attached to a first end of a rope 22. A second, opposite end of the rope 22 can be attached to a strap 10, such as a fabric strap. In some embodiments, the strap 10 can include an eyelet 12 for the rope 22 to pass through. The rope 22 can be secured upon itself, after passing through the eyelet 12, with a rope clamp 20, for example. Of course, other methods for attaching the rope 22 to the strap 10 are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

The strap 10 can include hook and loop fastener material 16, 18 to permit the strap 10 to wrap around a batting tee 40 supported from a home plate 42. The strap 10 can include a metal ring 14 for threading the strap 10 through after wrapping around the batting tee 40. Other methods for securing the strap 10 around the batting tee 40 are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

The baseball 44 can be prepared to receive the rope by cutting a first hole 26 into the baseball 44 having a first diameter. A second hole 28 can be cut into the baseball 44, opposite the first hole 26 and communicating with the first hole 26. The second hole 28 can have a second diameter, larger than the first diameter of the first hole 26. Typically, the first hole 26 and the second hole 28 form a path centrally through the baseball 44.

The rope 44 can pass into the first hole 26 and pass outward through the second hole 28. A knot 24 can be tied in the rope 22 such that the knot 24 is smaller than the second diameter of the second hole 28, but is larger and cannot be pulled through the first diameter of the first hole 26. The depth of the second hole 28 can be deep enough to allow the knot 24 to be within the second hole 28 and permit a binding adhesive 30 to be placed over the second hole 28 to secure the knot 24 and rope 22 with the baseball 44. Typically, the binding adhesive 30 has an exterior shape matching the exterior shape of the baseball 44.

A user 32 can use a baseball bat 34 to practice batting when the baseball 44 is placed on the batting tee 40. Outline 36, 38 shows the user 32 swinging the baseball bat 34 toward the baseball 44. When struck, the baseball 44 extends the rope 22 as shown by outlines 46 and 48. When the user 32 wants to hit again, they can simply pick up the baseball 44, place it back on the batting tee 40 and swing again.

The strap 10, as described above, can be anchored to the ground for soft toss batting practice. An eyelet, or the line, can be formed through the strap 10 for passing a stake therethrough to attach the strap 10 to the ground.

In some embodiments, a swivel (not shown) can be added to the batting practice device of the present invention. The swivel can help prevent the rope from getting twisted or knotted during use.

While the above describes a baseball attached to the rope, other sports balls that are struck with an object can be used with the practice device of the present invention. For example, a softball could be used in place of the baseball described above.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A batting practice device comprising: a ball; a rope having the ball attached to a first end thereof; a strap attached to a second, opposite end of the rope; and an attachment mechanism formed on the strap to permit the strap to be secured in a loop.
 2. The batting practice device of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism includes a hook and loop fastener.
 3. The batting practice device of claim 2, wherein the attachment device includes a ring for passing the strap therethrough prior to attaching the hook and loop fastener together.
 4. The batting practice device of claim 1, further comprising an eyelet in one end of the strap, the eyelet allowing the rope to pass therethrough.
 5. The batting practice device of claim 4, further comprising a rope clamp adapted to clamp the rope together after passing through the eyelet.
 6. The batting practice device of claim 1, wherein the ball has a hole formed therethrough, the hole including a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion, wherein the first diameter portion has a first diameter smaller than a second diameter of the second diameter portion.
 7. The batting practice device of claim 6, wherein the rope is passed into the ball through the first diameter portion and out of the ball through a second diameter portion, wherein a knot tied in the first end of the rope is retained in the second diameter portion without being pulled out through the first diameter portion.
 8. The batting practice device of claim 7, further comprising a binding adhesive disposed over the second diameter portion of the hole, the binding adhesive covering the knot disposed inside the ball.
 9. The batting practice device of claim 1, wherein the ball is a baseball.
 10. A batting practice device comprising: a ball; a rope having the ball attached to a first end thereof; a strap attached to a second, opposite end of the rope; and an attachment mechanism formed on the strap to permit the strap to be secured in a loop, wherein the ball has a hole formed therethrough, the hole including a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion, wherein the first diameter portion has a first diameter smaller than a second diameter of the second diameter portion; and the rope is passed into the ball through the first diameter portion and out of the ball through a second diameter portion, wherein a knot tied in the first end of the rope is retained in the second diameter portion without being pulled out through the first diameter portion.
 11. The batting practice device of claim 10, wherein the attachment mechanism includes a hook and loop fastener.
 12. The batting practice device of claim 11, wherein the attachment device includes a ring for passing the strap therethrough prior to attaching the hook and loop fastener together.
 13. The batting practice device of claim 10, further comprising an eyelet in one end of the strap, the eyelet allowing the rope to pass therethrough.
 14. The batting practice device of claim 13, further comprising a rope clamp adapted to clamp the rope together after passing through the eyelet.
 15. The batting practice device of claim 10, further comprising a binding adhesive disposed over the second diameter portion of the hole, the binding adhesive covering the knot disposed inside the ball. 